Author's Note

SURPRISE! Look who's back! Good news everyone, if you are still interested in seeing how this ends... then read on because I just finished it :) I'm sorry it took so long but my muse left me and just recently decided to come back.

There might be some mistakes, I tried reading through it a few times but still I might have missed some spelling/grammar.

Enjoy and please comment!

Ps. I will be posting this on AO3 too.

Chapter 10

Ed finds trouble

Ron was fuming when he found out that not only had the Griffindor house lost twenty points but also he, Ed and even Hermione got detention with Snape. They've had barely survived the class and that greasy git wanted to punish them even more?! Hermione told him it was deserved as they both were at fault, casting the spell over the potion without thinking of consequences.

"Honestly, Ron! Stop whining about this detention and be glad nothing serious happened! If you only listened to me, everything would have been fine!" She finally spat at him, fed up.

"Oh, so now it's my fault?! You just said we both deserved this detention! I knew the spell but you didn't let me cast it! I know I'm not as good as you are in potions but it doesn't mean I can't even cast such an easy spell right!" Ron shouted at Hermione, even more frustrated than before.

Ed just sat there, hiding his face in a book, trying to stay out of this for as long as possible. He was aware Hermione saw him using Alchemy and she was curious. He didn't want to gain her attention, especially now that Ron managed to irritate her. Harry was sitting beside him, for once silently reading. He knew better than to interrupt his best friends when they had one of their famous spat. He wondered if Ed will tell them the truth now that they saw him using Alchemy?

"I think it will be better if we got out of here before they start murdering each other." Harry said to him quietly and with a glance at Hermione's furious expression he agreed with a nod. Before anyone could stop them, Ed and Harry slipped out of the Griffindor common room.

Ed proposed they walk out and around the lake. That should give their friends enough time to cool off, besides the weather was nice for a change.

The conversation he had with Harry turned to the endless topic of his adventures with Al. Harry just loved hearing those, about traveling far and wide and meeting all sorts of people while getting in trouble. The boy was as much a trouble magnet as Ed was so he could relate.

"I've never really traveled anywhere. You are lucky you can just go wherever you want to. If I have to go somewhere, there are always guards around me." Harry sighed. "I understand they are there to protect me but I just wish I didn't have to be so tied up."

"Yea, I understand. It must suck."

"Yes but I guess I am used to it by now. Since Voldemort returned..." Harry expression got dark at the thought of the Dark Lord.

"Hey." Ed nudged him lightly and smiled his toothy grin. "You will kick his ass for sure. Don't worry." Harry couldn't stay in a dark mood with Ed at his side so he returned his smile. They were sitting close, side by side near the lake and Ed realized with a start they were just looking into each others eyes for a moment. Harry leaned down towards him, his emerald eyes at half mast. Ed looked away quickly and moved out of reach of the kiss. Sure, Harry was kind of cute, he had gorgeous eyes and Ed liked him well enough but he didn't want to give him false hope. Ed's heart set itself on Roy. Having a casual fling with a friend was a terrible idea. It would just hurt both of them.

Harry sighed again, seeing that Ed felt uncomfortable and retreated. He knew he had a crush on the blonde Alchemist. The problem was that Ed wasn't interested. Or maybe he was but he had his reasons for not letting Harry closer.

"Ed... Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Um, sure?"

"Do you have someone? I mean... a... boyfriend or girlfriend?" Harry blushed horribly and stuttered but he had to know. He knew Ed by now so that he was fairly sure that if Ed rejected him he wouldn't be cruel about it and Harry could just go on and try to forget this magnetic pull he felt towards him.

"I am in love with someone, yes." Ed admitted. It would be better for Harry to know. "I left him back in my world just before he went to do something very dangerous. I can only hope he survived and that I will be able to get back to him." His voice was pained.

"Oh. I'm sure he is fine and is waiting for you." Harry was a little sad Ed was taken but he wished the boy all the best. "So you have to hurry up and get home. If you need my help with anything, just tell me. Even if it's a boring research." They smiled at each other and the air finally cleared between them. They could stay as great friends without being awkward.

The detention with Snape turned out to be just an extra class when each of them had to work alone on their potion. It was hard work as this complicated mixture needed constant stirring. Ron managed to almost get himself killed again but somehow with a hissed warning from Hermione he kept the potion under control.

One evening found Ed slowly walking down the deserted corridor. He's just finished his extra lessons with Snape and he felt his mind aching. Still unable to perform Occlumency left Ed with exercises mentally tiring. He was good at organizing his thoughts and keeping lies under detection but some suggestive spells still baffled him. Snape could made him tell a partial truth by casting spells which confused Ed and left his mind spinning. Still, he was much better than he started and he knew with practice he will be able to push past it. When his magical core is strong enough, Snape would be able to teach him the art of real mind defenses and then no spells would work on him. Ed couldn't wait. He knew it was a matter of days that he would be able to start. Snape seemed to agree with him, surprisingly enough. Ed was pushing himself really hard at all of his trainings and read up on Occlumency during any spare moment he had. He was truly determined to master it as he knew his knowledge would be dangerous in the wrong hands.

As he rounded the corner, something suddenly flew towards him, aimed straight at his eyes. Only his fast reflexes allowed Ed to dodge the thing before it hit him in a face. Startled, he looked around but didn't spot anyone. After making sure he was alone and whoever tried to prank him already disappeared, he looked down to see what almost hit him. Ed chucked, seeing it were just some feathers. Probably levitated to fly so quickly at him.

This was not a first time he found himself a victim of innocent pranks. Ed suspected it was all Hermione's doing, even though he knew she didn't seem the type. She threw a lot of stuff towards him to try and make him use Alchemy again. Ed found it mostly funny, as the girl would never steep so low as to do anything harmful. She just wanted to catch him off guard and make him act out of habit. Ed knew he would have done that before but he managed to completely stop his automatic reaction to protect himself with Alchemy.

Next time Ed saw Harry without the rest of the golden trio, they had a good, long laugh about Hermione's antics. Harry was sure Ed could trust her and should tell her the truth. They were friends after all. Ed decided for now just to avoid her, though. If he was completely honest with himself, he wasn't worried as much for her silence as for her general safety. After thinking long about his situation with the Death Eaters and after learning the truth about the war the wizarding world was at, he realized knowing about Alchemy could be dangerous for any witch or wizard. It was bad enough Harry knew everything. Rationally, he knew she could keep a secret, so the risk was minimal, still better safe than sorry. He snorted at himself the moment he thought that. Was he getting old or something? It wasn't normal for Ed to think that way. He was a reckless person after all. But it wasn't only about his own life anymore so he wanted to be more careful.

It was a few days later when Hermione finally managed to corner Ed in the back part of the library, usually deserted as it had books about history and legends.

"Ed. I know you've been avoiding me since our detention." Hermione said instead of a greeting. He looked up at her and tried to quickly lie but she shook her head. "Don't pretend otherwise." With a sigh, she sat down next to him. "Look, I know you did some strange magic back there when you saved us in the potion class and I can't say I am not curious about it... but! I do consider you my friend and seeing you trying to avoid me like fire... I don't like it. I miss studying with you, you know how Harry and Ron are like!"

"Impossibly lazy and bored to death the minute they step into the library?" Ed smiled at her and she laughed.

"Exactly. So I am going to simply ask you once, no more trying to catch you off guard so you spill the beans." She said seriously and Ed nodded. "Will you please tell me how did you manage to transmutate the floor without your wand or without saying the spell?"

Ed sighed at that. At least she decided to ask him directly instead of observing his every move like a hawk. She did that at first and that was one of the reasons why he decided to avoid her. She was so perceptive he was afraid she could still figure something out just by deduction. He measured her with his eyes, seeing she was impatient to know but also probably resigned to not finding out. He did trust her and Harry considered this girl to be one of his closest friends, loyal to a fault. Ed made up his mind.

"Ok, fine. I will tell you. But not here. Even though we are alone we can't be sure no one can hear us and well... it is kind of a secret." She nodded at that and got up.

"C'mon then. I know just a place." Hermione smiled and led the way.

Ed was curious as he didn't visit this part of the castle too often. There was nothing really in this particular corridor, yet Hermione led the way with confidence so he decided to just follow and see. They stopped by an empty part of a wall and he watched with raised brow as she walked back and fourth a few times. Ed was about to ask her if she's lost it, when a door just appeared.

"Wha...?!"

"Welcome to the Room of Requirement!" She beamed at him when she opened the door leading to a comfortable common room. There was a sofa and a small fireplace, warming everything with a soft glow.

"What is this place?" Ed asked, looking around curiously. With the door closed the room was rather small but still seemed inviting enough.

Hermione explained everything she knew about the room and how it could be used. She said she found it by accident once, just a few weeks ago. She didn't tell Harry or Ron about it yet, as she was still pissed at Ron and what Harry knew, Ron did too.

"Ok, so you wanted to know how I saved you two?" Ed asked her, deciding to just get it over with. The risk he was putting her in was minimal after all. He hoped. But he knew Harry was right, Hermione became one of his closest friends and somehow it felt bad to be lying to her like that. She was a smart witch, she would be able to keep it to herself. "You have to be aware that what I am going to tell you is a secret." She nodded. "I mean it. Only Dumbledore, Lupin, Snape and Harry know the truth and I want it to stay like this. It is dangerous as the Death Eaters are looking for me..."

During that conversation Hermione's eyes got bigger and brighter with every fact Ed told her. And he told her everything Harry knew. He thought about it before and decided she could be trusted. If Hermione knew about his origins and Alchemy then maybe she would be able to help him get back home. She could research anything about the Gate and other dimensions to try and see if anyone in this world knew anything about it.

After he finished his tale with a small demonstration of an Alchemic circle, Hermione just sat there stunned, trying to wrap her head around it all. It sounded like some kind of elaborate fairytale but the demonstration of Alchemy convinced her it was true.

"I need your help." Ed broke the silence. "I have to get back home and to do that I need to know anything your world have about the Gate. I am also looking for the information about the Stallion Ghost and the ruins of Central. I need to find this place and speak to the ghost. I know you've tried to help me with this already but we didn't find anything. Would you try again?"

"Alchemy...!" She breathed, ignoring him for a moment. Seeing Ed's scowl, she snapped out of the daydream of such new and exciting knowledge. "Of course I am going to help you!" Then she grinned even more. "Let's try something! If this room can really provide us with anything, maybe it can give you books you need? Just concentrate hard on what you want to know." Ed looked skeptical but closed his eyes and thought about it anyway.

"Ed, look!" Hermione exclaimed happily and when he opened his eyes there was one small book on the table. He reached for it, his heart pounding frantically.

"It's a history book... about Central?!" He couldn't believe his eyes yet there it was – ancient history of beginning of magic. His brow furrowed as he read the introduction. Hermione hovered over his shoulder, reading along.

According to the text, there was once a historian obsessed with finding out about the origin of magic. He questioned everyone who knew legends and stories passed through generation and finally found a legend of the Stallion Ghost. He managed to find old ruins of once magnificent city and met the ghost himself. He described him as a young man who only told him about the name of the city – Central – and refused to tell him anything else. The ghost only asked to please include him in the book the historian wanted to write and tell anyone who wanted to listen that he is waiting for a lost traveler to guide him home. Unfortunately, the author of this book decided to keep the location of the ruins to himself as a revenge on the ghost. He didn't want to help anyone looking for the Stallion Ghost because he never found out the full story he so wanted to know.

On one hand, that was more information that Ed had found in weeks, on the other hand he could have happily slapped the guy who wrote it! Because of his pettiness, Ed still didn't know where the ghost was!

"Hermione! That was a brilliant idea!" Ed beamed at her. Even though it seemed the room didn't know anything about the Gate, he now knew a name of someone who could lead him to the first important clue.

"I don't get one thing." She said, deep in thought. "If you are from a city called Central and here we are talking about ruins... Is it the same city? That would mean that you are not from another dimension after all..." She trailed off, puzzled.

"I believe it is a parallel city. I traveled through the Gate once before." He admitted and told her about a different Edward and what happened to him.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Ed!"

"I'm fine." He said automatically. "Back to the point. We need to contact this guy." He motioned at the name of the author of the book. She nodded.

"Let's try and send him an owl first."

Ed thought long and hard that evening about the letter he wanted to write. He needed to make this guy curious and tempt him with some new information in exchange for the city location. If Ed was lucky, he was an idiot who would fall for it and just tell him everything without Ed having to provide information in return.

When Harry found out that Hermione now knew everything he voted for Ron to get to know the truth too. Ed reluctantly agreed but wasn't as sure as with Hermione because he knew Ron could blurt things out when he wasn't thinking (which was too often). Yet it seemed only fair and he knew Ron wouldn't betray him on purpose. Besides, as long as they were at Hogwarts they were safe, right? They already had an eye out for Malfoy and his minions anyway.

Time moved slowly after his small discovery of the book about the Stallion Ghost. No matter how many times he visited the room trying to think about anything that might be useful, he never got another book. The topic of the Gate wasn't something he could get in this world.

Unable to make any progress without the guy who wrote the book, Ed waited for his answer while filling his time with library books, lessons and magic practice. Harry tried to get him hooked up on Quidditch but Ed decided flying on a fucking broom was too much for him.

The first teacher to acknowledge that Ed has made enough progress to try and pass an exam for next year has been McGonagall. He was really good at transfiguration as he understood a lot about reshaping things. He had no problem with grasping the theory. He only had to train his magical core so it would become strong enough to be able to cast more advanced spells.

Hermione went into a studying frenzy when she found out he had a week before his exam. Ed swore she was a slave driver when even he couldn't look at his textbook for much longer. Harry, the traitor, just chuckled quietly at him and left him in Hermione's clutches.

Almost two weeks had passed and Ed gave up on ever receiving an answer to his letter. He managed to pass to the next year classes as well as study enough so that he would be on the same material they already were. His studies took up most of his time along with extra lessons, those he took and those he given. Hermione pestered him for so long that he finally gave in and started to teach her the basic of Alchemy as well. Because of all the chaos, he had no time at all to focus on his research. He regretted that each evening he laid down to sleep but he knew he couldn't really do anything yet. His magical core needed strengthening and the only way he could manage that would be by practicing magic.

It took him by surprise when he received the answer. The owl found him late in the evening.

Mr Elric

I was really surprised to receive a message from you claiming you are interested in the legend of the Stallion Ghost. I've never encountered anyone who was even remotely curious about so old a history. Most people don't even believe what I've written.

Even though a lot of time has passed, I am still interested in finding out the truth, especially as lately I discovered some new details that would make this legend even more extraordinary than I thought.

If you truly want to go to the ruins of Central and are who you appear to be, I can take you there but only if we go together. I cannot pass such a golden opportunity to find out what is the secret of the Stallion Ghost.

If you are amenable, meet me on the north hill overwatching Hogsmeade tomorrow night at one in the morning. Come alone or not at all.

Avery

Ed knew deep down that it was a bad idea to just go and meet up with an unknown guy in the middle of the night, alone. It wasn't going to stop him. Even if it turned out to be trouble, he still might learn valuable information. And Ed was a fighter, a solider and he wasn't defenseless. He'd kick his ass first, before the guy managed to try something.

The following day had Ed impatiently looking at the clock. He hated waiting and wanted the action to start already. Sitting on his ass and reading textbooks wasn't something Ed had any desire to participate in right now.

Hermione noticed his nervous ticks and pestered him mercilessly, which wasn't helping Ed's almost non-existent patience.

"All right! All right, I will tell you!" He shouted at her when she finally managed to drive him crazy. "Just stop asking already, jeez. You can be a right terror when you want to know something."

He sighed when her eyes lit up. At least it was only Hermione around, so he didn't have to tell Harry and Ron as well. Hermione would be hard enough to try to convince. Harry would just stubbornly follow him, no matter what Ed said. "I will tell you tonight, all right? I just can't right now." When she opened her mouth to argue, he quickly added. "I promise I will tell you what is going on." Reluctantly, she dropped the matter. If he was honest with himself, Ed knew he would have to stop her physically if he didn't want her to follow him. Great opportunity to try out that new tying spell I just learned. He smirked to himself when she wasn't looking. It'd serve her right, sticking her nose in my business AGAIN.

It turned out that Ed was right and Hermione was totally against him going there alone. Nothing he said made any difference. She threatened going to a teacher if he slipped passed her.

"I am not some kid that needs coddling! I'm a bloody solider! I can take care of myself." Ed fumed. She just raised an eyebrow at him, which just irritated him more. "This is the only chance for me to find a lead for getting home! I have to do this and I have to go alone or this guy might be spooked and won't show me anything! I'm sorry it came to this but you leave me no choice." Ed said, his voice suddenly turned deadly calm at the last sentence. Hermione startled at that and turned her head to face him just to look down the end of his wand. She gasped and tried to reach for her own but Ed was faster.

That evening Hermione found out how Neville felt that first year when she petrified him. She spend that night tied up to a chair inside an unused classroom. She was going to find Ed and kill him herself!

Ed couldn't stop giggling quietly to himself while sneaking out of the castle. Hermione's face when she realized he just tied her up and she couldn't even cancel the spell was priceless! It was really a useful spell he found by accident while looking through some of Snape's books.

The worst thing is that she was right. Ed thought when he woke up. Everything hurt. It turned out Avery was a Death Eater who knew about him from the start. He knew his name and his face. He didn't exactly lie – the bastard did know where the ruins were but like he said, it was a long time ago and simple curiosity is not worth risking Ed getting away from him. His Lord promised a great reward to anyone who would bring him the wielder of the new power. There was nothing Lord Voldemort valued more than power after all.

When Ed arrived at the hill, the guy managed to take him by surprise and petrified him. Ed couldn't even react. Then he gloated at him.

Now Ed was in proper trouble, chained up in a big stone room, surrounded by men clad in black. In front of him stood the Dark Lord, his wand lazily tracing a pattern on Ed's bruised skin. He gritted his teeth and yet again refused to answer. He'd rather die than give those bastards more power to use against his new friends. It seemed that in the time span he had been here, Ed started to really care about the wizarding world. They were his new friends and Hogwarts quickly become his home away from home. He'd rather take the knowledge of Alchemy to his grave. Besides, he knew that once he broke down under the torture his mind would be open. He had the knowledge behind the making of the Philosopher stone. That could make Voldemort and his minions invincible.

Ed was surprised how well his Occlumency was working. He was still new at the skill, Snape just managed to start to teach him how to keep the shields up. Most times, his teacher easily broke through. It seemed that determination was a great factor in protecting the mind. That and a tactic he came up with. He surrounded only his Alchemy with a mind barrier. This way, he didn't have to protect his whole mind, only the portions Voldemort was after. It made it easier to maintain and the shield was stronger as it was smaller. He also hid the Gate and the fact he was from another dimension. In Voldemort's eyes he was from some hidden country, small and unimportant. Ed made sure that information was in his mind to find. But the Dark Lord wasn't interested in his private life. He just wanted the knowledge and power. And was very ruthless in trying to extract it.

Ed just had to hold on. He had a mission, he needed to get back to Roy in one piece. His own scream of pain drowned his thoughts.

Voldemort was beyond furious. There were only a very few people who could defend their minds from him. And it seemed the kid was tough, he endured the torture without giving anything away. But what Voldemort had was time. Nobody was that strong. Sooner or later anyone will crave the painlessness of death and would tell him anything just for the torture to stop. Or the kid mind barriers would weaken enough for him to get through. The Dark Lord wasn't known for his patience but contrary to beliefs he had some. It wasn't exactly a chore to torture the kid anyway.

Ed remembered the time when he had two limbs ripped from his body. The day of his greatest mistake, when he lost his little brother. The pain of his leg just tearing apart, blood flowing freely, his mind in a shock and state of panic. That was the most painful experience he went through, worse than his automail surgery. He managed to work through it then, to still think clearly enough to figure out how to bind his brother's soul. He was able to sacrifice his arm then, to willingly go through that pain again while what was left of his leg still pulsed with agony. Ed concentrated on that memory now, tried to draw strength from it, reminding himself that he was capable of living though it. But the merciless spells that hit him one after the other, the beatings and the knives... He was truly afraid now. One slip of his determination and his shaky mind barrier will fall and next time Voldemort tries he will get everything.

I have to hold on. I cannot give up. The moment they gain the knowledge their seek, I will be dead. Or worse, he will take over my mind, make me a mindless puppet. A slave. I would never be able to go back home. Never see Roy and Al again.

Ed reminded himself of everything he loved and that love gave him power to feed his mind barrier. Finally, his body gave up first and he lost consciousness.